Old Mail

When I got ready to make this card, I went looking for a die set that I KNEW I had. It is similar to the one I used, but looks more like a stamp's perforated edges. Well, turns out that I don't have that set -- or if I do, it has disappeared. I actually think I have a couple of punches that look like stamps but they definitely were too small. So, while I like this card, I was a bit disappointed (more on that in a minute).

Here is the sketch:

Our sponsor this week is Pink and Main, and the prize is an ADORABLE St. Patrick's Day stamp set. (Being from Irish ancestry on both sides of the family, I'm quite fond of anything Irish!). Here is a picture of the set:

I'm running a bit behind getting my posting done today, so a quick recap. I went with a nostalgic theme for my card. The sketch just said "postage stamp" to me, and I thought of how much the hand written letters have always meant to our men and women in uniform. The letters were/are their connection to home. I started with a chocolate brown base and layered a vintage military themed paper on top of it. I then used a Martha Stewart border punch for my scalloped piece which I cut from the brown. I used a Spellbinder nesting die to cut my stamp shape, also from the dark brown.

The postmark circle is from a set of vintage stickers which I've had for more years than I can remember. The adhesive on the back was totally not sticky any more due to age. That was fine with me, though, as I popped the post mark circle up using foam dots. I used a slightly lighter taupe color for the fish tail banner -- which is a perfect place to stamp an appropriate sentiment (or type before cutting). I know it may look a bit unfinished without the sentiment, but I will wait until I need the card to actually stamp on a sentiment since I don't yet know to whom or for what I will use it. 

Have a good week. Spend some time crafting. Being creative is not only fun, but it is good for the disposition (smile)!

 

Paper Sale and Easter Images

 The We are 3 Mod Podge paper collection is on special until Feb 26 for $1.


I have made two cards using this paper collection which features 8 different patterned papers. The first card (above) used the blue and yellow patterns. The second card (below) used the green, yellow and blue.  

I used a 5 x 7" white card base and layered it with the yellow paper. I then cut a piece of the blue and used a Martha Stewart punch to create the side border. I used a Marianne Designs die to cut the background oval from the blue paper. (I was running low on ink, so the paper printed slightly lighter than the original color. I liked the lighter color behind the image as it made the blue in the image stand out more.) The image is from Provo Crafts which I printed, fussy cut and adhered to the die cut. I added the three small flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts) and the sentiment (matted with the blue paper).

For this card, I once again started with a white 5 x 7" card. I layered the green as the DP base for the card. I cut a piece of the yellow and matted it with the blue. I then cut my image into a square (I don't know who made the image. It was a miscellaneous clip art image I found in my files.) I matted the image with a piece of the blue paper, also. I then adhered three pink buttons to the upper corner. My daughter was going through one of my embellishment boxes and found the pink, metal happy word. I adhered it with glue dots.

Both cards took me about 30 minutes each to make, but look fantastic. I do like how the papers work together. These are happy colors and fun cards.

I do want to apologize for the second photo being a tad-bit dark. I am still trying to learn how to use a new photo editing program, and I don't know how to control it as well as I did my previous program. I am still heart sick over my computer crash and losing all of my programs, but life must move forward, so hopefully it won't take me too terribly long to learn what I am doing. Thankfully, I didn't lose any of my data files, just the programs needed to view/read/use them!

I hope you enjoy the cards. I really enjoy the We Are 3 papers and digital images. If you aren't yet familiar with them, they are sold at Etsy, and you really should take a few minutes to check them out.

Happy Crafting!  

Tea Cups and Roses

I apologize for the quality of the photo and the lack of watermark, but I had/am having computer problems. It is highly frustrating because I've lost all my programs although most of the data was saved. How dependent we've become on machines (sigh).

We have completed our flash back to 2017 and this is the first new sketch for 2018:

Isn't it lovely? I have used a green card base and a piece of digital paper from We Are 3 designs. Right now I cannot tell you the name of the digital package this paper is from (lost file), but I promise that I will add a P.S. before the week is out with the name and link for this lovely cotton candy looking pink paper. 

I also cannot share the name and designer of the image yet. (I might as well not even write this blog since I cannot get to and share the pertinent information - boohoo!) Anyway, I kept the card simple and true to the sketch design. I only used the two papers (the green card and the pink background). I cut the scalloped circle and the image circle with Spellbinder dies. The pink flowers are from Recollections, and the two leaf elements are from Martha Stewart punches.

I hope to have my computer back up and running properly soon, and I do promise to come back and give you the missing information. In the mean time, have a good week and happy crafting! 

 PS: I am still working on trying to reinstall my programs and get my computer back up to snuff. It is a slow process, especially since I am having trouble remembering what programs I had. Anyway, I did recover enough to be able to do the research on the paper and image, and as promised, I am letting you know the details on them (smile). The pink paper is from the We Are 3 Sweetheart Collection. The image is called Tea Cup Stack by Happileigh. (I did a search for Leigh's site, but I did not find it. I don't know if she has closed it or what. I always enjoyed doing cards with her images.)

Happy Birthday Owl

I used one of the papers for this card from the Celebrate Collection (which is now on sale in the store for $0.80).

We Are 3 Digital Shop Sale! 20% off entire shop. NO COUPON needed!
Get this Brand NEW paper for $.80 USD
Sale ends February 15 - Midnight EST
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WeAre3

 

The image is from Chris Beach (Imagine That Designs). The paper matched the image so perfectly that is was a fun, easy and quick card to make!

I love using the We Are 3 digital papers. They mix and match well, and they look wonderful when printed off. No buying and storing paper pads or packets. How often have you ended up buying a full pad of paper and actually only used (maybe) half? With the We Are 3 digital papers, there is no waste. You print only the papers you are going to use. Don't need a full 8.5 x 11" sheet? You can print a smaller sheet, saving you paper, ink and "waste." 

 

If you want more ideas on how to use the We Are 3 papers, join the We Are 3 FaceBook page. You will enjoy lots of beautiful designs and fun cards posted.

Hedgehog Love

Good morning. It is time for another Tuesday Morning Sketches blast from the past. This week, I picked our sketch. I love the was this sketch is so versatile and changes depending on the papers and/or image used. It is a really great sketch to have in your creative folder.

I have used three papers from a Valentine pack by Recollections for Michael's Crafts. I started with a red card base and cut the three patterned papers to size following the sketch. I then used a Penny Black Hedgehog image and cut it in an oval using a Spellbinder oval nesting die. I then cut two ovals, one red and one pink, using the Spellbinder scalloped oval die. 

The sentiment is from my stash, and I raised it using foam pads. Lastly, I added some metal hearts from a package from my stash (I don't recall the manufacturer, but I believe I got them last year from Hobby Lobby).

The gift this week is a lovely embroidery template for making embroidery designs on your cards. I have a Dutch friend who makes gorgeous cards using embroidery stitches on her cards. Full instructions are on the package, so if you have been wanting to try this lovely technique, this is your chance to entry to try to win this lovely brass template. All you have to do is create a card using this week's sketch and entering it at the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog.

Have fun and create!